If you are in danger call
000

Call 24hr NSW Domestic Violence Line
1800 65 64 63

Call Lifeline
13 11 14

Call Mary’s House Services
1800 002 111

Call Mary’s House Admin
02 8937 2094

Safety, Support, Connection.

Mary's House Community Programs Centre

Symbolic of hope and new beginnings, Mary’s House Community Programs Centre provides services to women experiencing domestic and family violence. It is a physical and virtual, safe place providing tailored services meeting the individual needs of clients at their level of comfort.

Mary’s House Community Programs Centre offers therapeutic and wellbeing groups, workshops, clinics, and programs for people who identify as women, and who have experienced or are experiencing domestic and family abuse. There is no charge for participation. Free childminding can often be arranged if requested at time of registration. Details of group programs are below. Download Term 3 2025 Program Schedule

Portrait of a beautiful, freckled smiling woman in her 30s

Reflect & Restore

"I gained new coping strategies and perspective on life."

Reflect & Restore is a six week group program and is suitable for women who have left an abusive relationship and are ideally receiving support from a counsellor or psychologist. This is a reflective program that blends both psychoeducation with therapeutic activities including art, drumming, and mindfulness.

The program is run by qualified counsellors.

Aims:

increase understanding of domestic and family abuse
build connection with other women
gain an understanding how past traumatic events can have an impact on emotional responses
develop strategies for emotional stabilisation, resilience, and self-care

For more information or to register, please contact us via referrals@maryshouse.org.au

Domestic violence — what's it all about?

Domestic violence and abuse is prevalent in our society today but often difficult to recognize. To help women understand what may be occurring in their intimate partner relationship, we have developed a workshop to provide an overview of this complex issue and provide details of those who can best assist.

This workshop is suited to women still in or have recently left an abusive relationship.

The program aims for women to:

Gain an understanding of domestic and family violence and its impact
Gain an understanding of the coercive control legislation
Gain an understanding of safety issues
Learn what support is available to them
Connect women with others going through a similar experience

Parenting and DFV

"Very helpful to discuss our situations with each other. Great parenting suggestions from other mums during our discussions."

Parenting and DFV is a five week group program and is suitable for women who have previously received psychoeducation on the dynamics and complexities of domestic and family violence (DFV). This group will provide women with strategies and tools to support parenting their children who have also been impacted by domestic and family violence. Parenting and DFV incorporates elements from other programs and theories including: Black Box Parenting, Attachment Theory, Emotional Coaching, Bringing Up Great Kids and Parenting after Family Violence. The program is suitable for women with children between three and 12 years old and is run by a qualified counsellor. Aims:

build rapport with children; develop safe, predictable, meaningful relationships
validate children’s feelings and emotions; build children’s resilience
use play/special time for self-regulation and creating positive memories
develop tools for kind and understanding responses to children’s behaviour; positive coping strategies

For more information or to register, please contact us via referrals@maryshouse.org.au

Art Therapy

"Creating art made me reconnect much deeper with my feelings. It enhanced my way to communicate myself without needing to talk."

Art Therapy is a six-week group program for women who have experienced abuse who are looking for an alternative way to develop self-awareness, explore emotions, address unresolved emotional conflicts, improve social skills, and improve self-esteem. All materials are provided, and no art experience is needed. This program is run by a qualified art therapist. Aims:

enhance physical, emotional, cognitive functioning, and social integration
develop insights and understanding to facilitate change

For more information or to register, please contact us via referrals@maryshouse.org.au

Connect

"I have had to live in my head for so long to stay safe. Connect has helped me on the journey to re connect my body and mind"

Connect is a 12 week program (Level 1 – 6 weeks, Level 2 – 6 weeks) of exercise-based physiotherapy for women of all levels of fitness who have experienced abuse and want to strengthen their physical and emotional health. The program is run by an exercise-sensitive physiotherapist. Aims:

develop strategies to regulate the nervous system
build fitness and strength
support emotional healing

For more information or to register, please contact us via referrals@maryshouse.org.au

Financial Wellbeing

"...this exceeded my expectations. Very practical and comprehensive info."

Financial Wellbeing is a 90 minute workshop run in conjunction with CatholicCare. The program is suitable for women who have experienced financial abuse and want to gain basic knowledge and access to resources on financial matters that can assist them moving forward. Aims:

learn how to recognise and respond to financial abuse
gain financial sustainability and control through basic budgeting
learn about debt – good and bad
access to financial support services and resources

For more information or to register, please contact us via referrals@maryshouse.org.au

"Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I’m so thankful for this space, the support, and everything I have learnt. This is truly a special program. I will always remember it and use what I have gained."

Samira, Mary's House Community Programs Centre Client

“Mary's House Community Programs Centre and staff were so important for me and two years on continue to be.”

Martha, Mary's House Community Programs Centre Client